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Facts and Events
William Bell was one of the Early Settlers of Augusta County, Virginia
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Early Land Acquisition in Augusta County, VA
Acquisition of Land in Augusta County:
- William Bell acquired at least 164 acres of his father, James Bell's 400-acre tract "on a branch of Middle River of Shanando near the North Mountain, Samuel Craig's corner", most likely given to William by will, as listed in the disposition below:
Disposition of Land from Chalkley's:
- Page 811.----19th March, 1765. William Bell and Rachel to Samuel Craig, £15, two tracts: A, 30 acres, part of 400 whereon Bell now lives, on McClure's Run, a branch of Middle River of Shanandore; B, 60 acres adjoining above, and between it and Morris O'Friel's and Andrew Foster's lands. Delivered: Samuel Craig, 26th May, 1773.
- Page 214.--9th December, 1767. William Bell and Rachel to Rev. Charles Cummins, £120, 164 acres, part of 400 acres patented to James Bell, deceased, father of said William, on a branch of Middle River of Shanando near the North Mountain, Samuel Craig's corner. Teste: Samuel Craig, James Bell, Henry Cresswell, James Bell. Delivered: Cumings, December, 1768.
Records in Augusta County, VA
From Chalkley’s Augusta County Records:
- Page 95.--5th July, 1768. William Davis, of Mecklenburg County, N. C , to Morris Ofreil, planter, 5 shillings, 160 acres. Bell's Spring Run, adjoining James Bell, William Bell and Charles Phillips patented to William Davis 16th August, 1756. Teste: John Stuart, Robert Wallace, William Blear.
- Page 250.--17th October, 1769. John Young's bond (with John Handley, William and James Bell) as guardian (appointed) to James Young, orphan of James Young.
- Page 448.--29th August, ____. (Recorded, 19th November, 1776.) Thomas Armstrong's estate appraised by James Kirk, William and James Bell.
- Page 195.--14th February, 1795. James Bell's will--To wife, Martha; to sons, James and William, tract purchased of James Trimble on Middle River; to Frances Bell; to son, Robert; to sons, John and Samuel Bell, home plantation; to eldest daughter, Agnes, 1,000 acres in Kentucky; to daughter, Rachel, 1,000 acres in Kentucky; to son, Robert, 500 acres in Kentucky; to son, Francis, 1,000 acres in Kentucky; to daughter, Mary An, 1,000 acres in Kentucky. Executors, wife Martha, brother William Bell, brother John Kirk. Teste: William Sterrett, Francis Gardiner, Jas. Brown. Proved, October Court, 1795, by the witnesses. Widow qualifies.
- Vol. 2 - Crawford vs. Kenney--O. S. 115; N. S. 39--Bill, 27th December, 1805. Orator, John Crawford. In 1751 Morris Offriel entered 200 acres in Augusta adjoining William Davis's survey. Morris did not complete his title and another survey was made by Daniel Offriel, son and heir-at-law of Morris, on 100 acres of the tract, on which in 1785 James Bell also made an entry. Chesley and Jacob Kenney, brothers, are in possession. James Bell died and devised the land to his sons, John and Samuel Bell, who conveyed to C. Kinney, who conveyed to Jacob. William Bell, aged 68 years, deposes 16th July, 1808, he has lived 60 years and upwards adjoining the land, being two years old when his father settled where deponent lives. John Elliott, aged 60 years upwards, the lower road on the plat was built 20 or 25 years after the affiant knew the upper road laid down by said defendants, to have been in use. The last was the old road and had been long used before the other was cut or opened. Maj. Samuel Bell, aged 48 or 49, deposes 2d April, 1808; has lived all his life in the neighborhood of the land in controversy on the near Buffalo Gap; there was a beautiful piece of pine timber on it. Samuel's father has been dead six or seven years and was about 70 years old. Samuel's grandfather and defendant's (Bell's) grandfather were brothers. Francis Gardner, aged 46 years, deposes, 1808; he was born and lived (except 2 or 3 years of childhood) in the neighborhood; his father was Thomas Gardner, who owned lands adjoining. Thomas was killed by Indians when Francis was very young. Francis Bell, aged 38, deposes, 23d January, 1808, that he has lived all his life near the land in controversy; son of James Bell, who has been dead more than 5 years. Robert Wallace deposes that he was well acquainted with Morris Offriel and Daniel Offriel. Daniel was cousin of deponent. Agnes Offriel deposes, 14th November, 1808, that she is widow of Daniel. They lived within two miles of the land from the time they were married upwards of thirty years ago, till the death of her husband ten years ago. William Bell, Jr., deposes 12th March, 1808; son of James and brother to John and Samuel. William is now in 40th year. (Note: record establishes William Bell's birthdate in abt. 1740)
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